Switching means.



w. F. K. GORENSKOWSKI.

SWITCHING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30. I918.

1,32,58'K, Patented May 6,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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0 Q mm A F 27; INVENTOR WiTN ESSES 56%im5fi W M (7- 4, f? y ATTORNEY W. F. K. GORENSKOWSKE.

I SWITCHING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, ms.

Lsmmm Patented May 6, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '2.

WITNESSES.

ATENT FFI@E.

WILHELM F. K. GORENSKOWSKI, OF LA SAL-LE, ILLINOIS.

SWITCHING MEANS.

isoaest.

Application filed April 30,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILHELM F. K. Go- RENSKOWSKI, a German subject, but having declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States, residing at La Salle, in the county of La Salle, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Switching Means, of which the followin is a specification.

This invention re ates to switching means, and more particularly to a switch mechanism for directing railway cars from the main track onto a siding.

One of the main objects of the invention is to provide a switching means of the character stated of simple construction and oper ation which may be readily applied to a track of standard construction. A further object is to provide switching means by which a rail section may be turned into position for closing one track and opening the other track so as to direct a car onto either track desired. Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a switching means constructed in accordance with my invention as applied,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail top plan view showing the movable rail section in the opposite position to Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side view of the operating lever for the movable switch section,

Fig. 4 is a front view of the lever for operating the switch point.

The main track A is provided with the parallel rails b and c. A siding B is run off from the main track and is provided with. the parallel rails d and e. A movable switch point 1 is positioned adjacent the intersection of main track A and siding B, and is pivoted as at 2 to the end of a short rail section 3 which is fixedly secured and constitutes a part of rail 7) of the main track. This switch point is movable toward and away from rail 12 and is operated by means of a switch rod 4 connected to a bell crank lever 5 which is rocked by a connecting rod 6 pivotally secured to the upper end of a crank 7 formed integral with a rock shaft 8 mounted in a standard 9. This shaft may be rocked by means of a lever 10 which is secured thereon. By rocking this shaft the switch oint 1 may be moved into engagement wlth rail 6 so as to form a continuation thereof, in the well known manner.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 65, 121119.

1918. Serial No. 231,717.

When the switch point 1 is moved away from the rail, an opening is provided leading into the siding B as in Fig. 1.

A frog plate 11 is secured in position in the main track A with its center at the point of intersection of rail 5 of the main track and rail 6 of siding B, this plate having its longitudinal axis coincident with the axis of the rail 6. An operating arm or beam 12 is positioned beneath plate 11 and is pivotally secured thereto by means of a center pin 13 which extends upwardly through the plate. This center pin extends into and is rigidly secured to a movable rail section 1 1. By turning beam 12 in proper direction, movable rail section 14- may be moved into position so as to form a continuation of rail 6 of the siding as shown in Fig. 1 or to close rail 6 of the main track so as to form a continuation thereof, as in Fig. 2. In openings in the rails e and b, I provide arcuate wear plates 15 under the ends of the rail section 1 1, each plate being provided at each end with a bent over portion constituting a stop member 16. These plates serve to support and guide movable rail section 14 during its movement, the stop 16 being adapted to engage the base flange 14 of rail section 14 so as to positively limit movement of the same in either direction when moved into its extreme position. This will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

An operating lever 17 is rockably supported by a switch stand 18 positioned between rails o and e for movement about a vertical axis. This lever is pivotally connected by a connecting rod 18, adjacent one end, to a crank 19 on a rock shaft 20 mounted in a standard 21 positioned between the rails b and 6. An operating lever 22 is secured on shaft 20 adjacent each end thereof so as to be easily operated from a car on either track. Each end of lever 17 is connected by a cable 23 to the corresponding end of the beam 12. By rockin lever 22 toward switch stand 18, beam 12 Wlll be operated so as to swing the movable rail section 1 1 into the position shown in Fig. 1 so as to complete rail 6 and direct the car approaching the siding onto siding B.

The opposite ends of switch beam 12 are also connected by cables 24 to the ends of a lever 25 pivotally supported on an upright 26 carried by a base 27, at its longitudinal center. This lever is also provided with an outwardly projecting arm 28 which is pivswung into the position illustrated in Fig. 1, v

the switch rod 4 will be operated by means of lever 25 so as to move switch point 1 away" from rail 1) of the maintrack. This results in closing the main track and opening the siding so as to direct the approaching car onto the same. If the beam 12 is swung in th opposite-direction, this operation will be reversed so as to open the main track and close the siding. In this connection, it will be noted from Fig. 1 that, when shaft 8 is operated by means of lever 10 from a car approachingthe siding, so as to move the switch point 1 either toward or away from rail 6, corresponding movement of the movable ra-il section 14 will be caused by means of lever 25 and cables 24 so asto open or close the main track or siding as the case may be.

To effectually eliminate all possibility-of displacement of the movable rail section 1%. when in use, I provide means for locking the rail in operative position. For this purpose, a substantially elongated triangular locking block 30 is pivotally secured at one corner of its base on the frog plate 11. This block is connected by a link 31 to the operating beam 12 a short distance from the outer end thereof. To accommodate the end of this link which is connected to the block 30, an arcuate slot 32 is provided through plate 11, this slot servingto permit proper movement of the link when the block is moved into and out of operative position. Two such blocks are shown each ofsuch length and so related to the lever 12 that, when the lever is rocked to move rail section 14 into its extreme position in either direction, one of the blocks will be moved into operative position, the other block being simultaneously moved aside. In Fig. 1 of the drawingsthe movable rail section is set in. position toclose the. siding B so as to direct. a car thereon onto the main. track. is between therails of the siding is in position so as to engage the inner face of the web portion of the rail section 14. By this means, rail section 11 is locked against movement, by the wheels of the car passing over the same when moving onto the siding.

from the main track, as will be clear from Fig. 1. If themovable section 14.15 now turned into position to close" the main track, as in Fig. 2,. the locking block 30 which between the rails b and 0 of the main tracki In this position, the block 30 which,

with the movement of the rail section and are swung by the same means.

As will be. evident, this switching means may be readily applied to a railway of standard construction and, for this reason, may be readily installed at small cost. It will be understood that the switch "stands 18 and 35 are connected to the arm 17 and rod at, respectively, so as to be operated thereby for signaling purposes in the usual manner.

The foregoing description and the drawings have reference to what may be considered the preferred, or approved, form of invention. It is to be understood that I may make such changes in construction and arrangement and combination of parts, materials, dimensions, etc., as may prove expedient and fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my inven tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a switch, the combination with crossing rails broken at their intersection, a frog plate mounted at such point, an operating beam underlying this plate and having its shaft extending upwardly through the same, a movable rail section carried by the upper end of said shaft, and means for swinging said beam; of'two triangular locking blocks pivoted upon said plate at opposite sides of said rail section,

10 D a e iaiin .ar itaces ar nc 1811" t1 it 1 g 01* lots on ltl pivots, and links connected with the ends of said beam and projecting through said slots for swinging the blocks alternately to project their tips toward said rail section. for the purpose set forth.

2; In a switch, the combination with a pair of crossing, rails interrupted at the point of crossing, a centrally pivoted movable rail section mountedat said point, a beam for swinging it, a frog plate underlying the section, and arc-uateplates beyond both extremities of the frog plate support ing the ends of said section and having stops at their extremities; of the pivoted switch points, means for throwing the same for the approaching car, and connections between the actuating means and said beam for throwing'the movable rail section simultaneously, as described.

3. In a switching means, the combination with a main track and a siding, the inner rails of said main track and siding intersecting and being provided with openings adjacent their point of intersection, of an operating beam rockablymounted for movement about a vertical axis at the point" of intersection of said intersecting rails, a rail section secured to said beam for movement therewith so as to be moved into alinement with either one of said intersecting rails when the beam is operated, an operating lever mounted for movement aboutan axis with a main track and a siding, the inner" rails of said main track and siding intersecting and being provided with openings adjacent their point of intersection, of a movable rail section mounted for movement about a vertical axis at the point of intersection of the said intersecting rails so as to be brought into alinement with either of said rails, optionally, so as to form a continuation thereof, means for positively limiting movement of said rail section in either direction so as to insure proper registering thereof with either one of the intersecting rails into alinement with which it is brought, and means for cooperating with said limiting means for locking the movable rail section in operative position.

5. In switching means, the combination with a main track and a siding communicating therewith, the innerrails of said main track and siding intersecting, said intersecting rails being provided adjacent the point of intersection with openings, of a movable rail section mounted for movement about a vertical axis at the point of intersection of said rails and adapted to be rocked in either direction so as to close the opening of either one of said rails, optionally, means for positively limiting movement of said movable rail section in either direction so as to insure proper registering thereof with either of said intersecting rails, means cooperating with said limiting means for locking the movable rail section in adjustment, and means for operating the movable rail section and for simultaneously moving said locking means into operative position.

6. In switching means, the combination with a main track and a siding, the inner rails of said siding and main track intersect ing and being provided with openings adjacent their point of intersection, of an operating beam mounted for movement about a vertical axis adjacent the point of intersection of the said intersecting rails, a rail sec tion secured to said beam so as to be turned also into position for closing the opening of either of the rails when the lever is rocked, means for positively limiting movement of the movable rail section in either direction so as to insure proper register thereof with the intersecting rail into alinement with which it is moved, locking blocks pivoted at opposite sides of the movable rail section and adapted to cooperate with said limiting means so as to secure the rail section in adjustment, and connections between said locking blocks and the operating beam for moving said blocks into operative position simultaneously with operation of the movable rail section.

7. In switching means, the combination with a main track and a siding communicating therewith, the inner rails of said main track and siding intersecting and being provided with openings adjacent their point of intersection, of an operating beam rockably mounted for movement about a vertical axis at the point of intersection of said intersecting rails. a rail section secured to said beam for movement therewith so as to be moved into alinement with either one of said intersecting rails when the beam is operating, means for positively limiting movement of the movable rail section in either direction so as to insure proper register thereof with the intersecting rail into alinement with which it is moved, means cooperating with said limiting means for positively locking the rail section in adj ustment, an operating lever mounted for movement about an axis intermediate its ends, connections between the ends of said lever and the beam for rocking the beam when the lever is rocked, means operable from either the main track or the siding, optionally, for rocking said lever, movable switch points mounted in said intersecting rails ad ja'cent the point of juncture of the siding with the main track and movable into and out of engagement with the rails of the main track so as to close or open said siding or main track, means for operating said switch points, and connections between said operating means and the operating beam for causing operation of the switch points in accordance with operation of the movable rail section so as to close or open the main track or the siding, optionally.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILHELM F. K. GORENSKOWSKI.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WELTER, FRANK KARUM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

